Liverpool F.C. sent defender Mamadou Sakho home from their 2016 pre-season tour of the USA after Jurgen Klopp caught him breaking club rules on camera.

What happened on the USA tour?

Liverpool’s pre-season trip to America in 2016 turned sour when Sakho was filmed laughing at Klopp during a club interview on Alcatraz Island. The German boss used a GoPro camera handed to players to highlight Sakho’s lateness, telling staff: “We could have left Mama Sakho here because he is filming me while I give the interview here.”

Sakho fired back: “I have just one question. How long do you think you can live here?” Klopp shot back: “Actually, I don’t have to think about it. You should think about it. Because only one of us came late last night, for departure in Liverpool. It was not me.”

Why did Klopp act?

Klopp made it clear Sakho’s repeated lateness had worn thin. The French defender missed a training session and was late for a meal, breaching Liverpool’s pre-season rules. After the Alcatraz incident, Klopp sent Sakho home early, telling reporters: “I thought maybe it made sense for him to fly home to Liverpool and after eight or 10 days, when we come back, we can talk about it. It's not that serious.”

Sakho later admitted his tardiness to Canal Football Club, saying: “It is true that I turned up late. There was a rule that I should have observed. I do not at all see myself as above the rules, I respect everyone.” He paid his fine, apologised to teammates and the manager, and insisted he respected the club.

How did Sakho’s Liverpool career end?

Sakho joined Liverpool in September 2013 from Paris Saint-Germain for £18 million under Brendan Rodgers. His debut season nearly delivered the Reds their first Premier League title in 25 years, but he featured in just 18 league games as Liverpool conceded 50 goals. After the USA banishment, Sakho was demoted to the Under-23s and never played for the senior side again. He left for Crystal Palace on loan in January 2017.

Liverpool F.C. finished 5th in the Premier League last season with 60 points from 38 games, 25 points behind Arsenal, scoring 63 goals and conceding 53.